Torpedo-launching apparatus.



T. M00. GUNN.

TORIEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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, l/WE/VTOR fie/mas AW Ceyw D/m' BY K Add/W Ana/MW T M00. GUNN. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

- APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 4, 1913. 1,097,624.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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W M RV w n [W a7 mm 1 WIT/V5885 E STATES PATENT Ft) THOMAS MCCHEYNE GUNN, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, A SIGNOR TO ELECTRIC S BOAT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW TORPEDQ-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

earner,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS MOOHEYNE GUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at and whose post-office address is New London, county of New London, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TorpedolLaunching Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to operating mechanism for clearing the line of fire of a torpedo tube, preferably by a single driving operation, wherein the torpedo tube is ar ranged longitudinally of the boat in line with a swinging section of the hull near one end, particularly for the purpose of providing apparatus which may be operated quickly and directly to avail of the uneX- pected and recurring favorable moments of fire and at the same time for permitting fine hull lines tending to promote speed and diving possibilities in the case of submarine boats. The broad idea of clearing the line of fire of a torpedo tube of this kind by a single driving operation, and specific arrangements for this purpose, are disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 734,317, filed November 30, 1912, wherein a retractable hull section and the cap of the torpedo tube in line therewith are simultaneously opened to the position for firing by a rigid operating connection from the driving means to the cap, and a collapsible operating connection from the same driving means to a retractable hull section.

One object of the apparatus covered by this application is to improve the construction disclosed in said co-pending applica tion by making both of the operating connections from the driving means rigid, and preferably by making the torpedo cap itself a part of the operating connection for the swinging hull section of the boat. These preferred results are attained in the embodiments herein disclosed by pivotally connecting the swinging hull section to its operating connection and also to a rigid part of the hull, and then making one Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1913.

Patented h'llay 2t}, Fluid, Serial No. 740,195.

or the other of said pivoted connections also slidable, whereby the torpedo cap and the swinging hull section may be swung about different centers by rigid operating connections from a common driving means. In the preferred one of the embodiments herein disclosed the connection between the swinging hull section and the rigid hull is slidable as well as pivotal, and the connec tion between the swinging hull section and the rigid operating connection comprises an ordinary pivot, the retractable hull section then sliding along the boat as it is being opened together with the torpedo cap preliminarily to the firing of the torpedo tube, or when it is being swung to its normally closed position where it gives the hull fine lines with a smooth or uninterrupted outer surface when the torpedo tube is not being fired. So far as I am. aware, a hull. section capable of sliding along the rigid hull section as well as swinging relatively thereto is novel in the art, and since it lends itself well to various arrangements for firing torpedo tubes, whether by a single driving operation or otherwise, the claims relating to these features should be broadly in terpreted.

As in the co pending application referred to, the appa 'atus herein shown likewise particularly applicable to submarine boats and the like, where it is usual to provide a plurality of such torpedo tubes. The hull sections may be swung collectively or in groups, in order to facilitate the firing of more than one torpedo at a time, although it appears preferable to preserve the simplicity and directness of the firing operation by providing a swinging hull section for each torpedo tube separate from each of the others and imlepeudently operable.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the forward part of a submarine boat, as an example, wherein niy improved arrangements are shown, Figure 1. represents a partial sectional plan of one side of the boat showing the operating mechanism for the upper torpedo tube on that side wherein the pivotal connection between the operating member and the swinging hull section is slidable; Fig. 2 is a partial cross-so :tion on line 2-2 of Fig. l, particularly showing the operating mechanism for the upper and lower torpedo tubes on one side of the boat; Fig. represents a partial sectional plan of the preferred form of construction showing the upper torpedo tubes on the two sides of the boat, wherein each swinging hull section is arranged to slide relatively to the rigid hull section as well as to turn about its pivot in its movement; Fig. 1 is a partial cross-section on line 11 of Fig. 3, showing the operating mechanism for the two upper torpedo tubes; and Fig. 5 is a reduced side elevation of the forward part of the boat showing the arrangement of the torpedo tubes on one side in accordance with the construction of Figs. 3 and 1.

The fine lines of the hull tending to pro mote high speed in running and superior action in diving are indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, wherein the rigid hull and the swinging hull sections are arranged near the bow of the boat in such manner as to present a substantially smooth and uninterrupted outer surface when in the normally closed position shown by the full lines. In each modification shown in the drawings, there are four torpedo tubes altogether, two being mounted in superposed relation on each side of the longitudinal center line of the boat, and the operating mechanism for each torpedo tube being intended to be actuated independently of that for the other tubes. Each torpedo tube is intended to contain the usual form of torpedo 15.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the swinging hull sections 2 are separately operable and each is pivotally connected at a fixed place 3 to the rigid hull section 1, and also pivotally connected to its operatin g connection in such manner that thepivot pins 4 may slide in the slots of the members 5 carried by the swinging hull section, when that hull section is being swung to or from the open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 for firing that torpedo tube. Directly in longitudinal line with the opening produced upon swinging each swinging hull section to its open position, is mounted a torpedo tube (3 arranged within the boat lengthwise thereof so as to fire substantially in the direction of motion of the boatthrough the opening in the hull. Each torpedo tube is provided with a cap 7 normally closed over the forward end thereof as indicated in full lines. In order to swing any one of the swinging hull sections 2 to its open position and to simultaneously open the cap 7 of the corresponding torpedo tube, there is provided an operating mechanism comprising a shaft 8, suitably journaled for turning, and a toothed segment 9 fastened on the shaft in driving engagement with the worm 10, which is driven in any suitable way. The torpedo cap 7 is provided with a rigid projecting member 11 fastened to the shaft 8, and is also provided with two rigid arms 12 each carrying one of the pivot pins at. IVhen the shaft 8 is turned, the torpedo cap 7 is swung about the axis of the shaft 8 as a center, while the swinging hull section 2 is swung about the fixed pivot 3 as a center, the pivot pins 4. sliding in the slots of the respective members 5.

In the preferred form of construction illustrated in Figs. 3, a, and 5, the idea of clearing the line of a torpedo tube by a single driving operation and by rigid operating members extending from a common driving source, is preserved. In this preferred form, each swinging hull section 20 is mounted for swinging movements on the pivot rod 21 which carries at its ends the rounded portions 22 adapted to slide in the Z-bar guides 23 fixed to the rigid hull section 30 of the boat. The swinging hull section is swung by a pivot connection 2% between a lug carried by the swinging hull section and a lug carried by the cap 25 of the torpedo tube 26. The rigid arm 27 is connected to the same pivot connection 24:, and since it is also fastened to the driving shaft 9, the cap and the swinging hull section are simultaneously swung to and from their pen position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 by turning the driving shaft 8 in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Each swinging hull section swings about the axis of it pivot rod 21 as a center at all times, and simultaneously slid-es relatively to the rigid hull section as the pivot rod slides in the fixed guides 23.

By the arrangements hereinbefore decribed, the line of fire of each torpedo tube is cleared positively and quickly by rigid operating members of simple construction tending toward ease of operation, whereby in warfare a favorable opportunity for delivering one or more of the torpedoes in substantially the direction of motion of the boat may be quickly availed of without undue preliminary preparation, while at the same time fine hull lines may be given to the boat for the purpose of promoting speed, and superior diving action in the case of submarine boats, in runs of endurance as well as in warfare. It is to be understood that my improvements may be similarly applied to the stern of the boat to give fine lines thereat, when it is desired to fire torpedoes rearwardly, which is likewise important since it is essential to speed and diving action that this portion of the hull conform to such outline also.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a boat having a normally-closed laterally-swinging hull section on the side and near one end of the boat, and a torpedo tube provided with a swinging cap and mounted entirely within the hull of the boat and to one side of the longitudinal center line thereof so as to fire through the opening produced in the hull upon swinging the swinging hull section to its open position, of mechanism for clearing the line of [ire of the torpedo tube by a single driving operation, comprising a driving connection, and rigid operating means extending from the driving connection to a connection with the torpedo cap and to a connection with the swinging hull section in such manner as to swing the swinging hull section and the torpedo cap about different centers to their open positions upon operation of the driving connection to its open position; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section, and a normally-closed laterally-swinging hull section near one end of the boat, and a torpedo tube provided with a swinging cap and mounted entirely within the hull of the boat and to one side of the longitudinal center line thereof so as to fire through the opening produced in the hull upon swinging the swinging hull section to its open position, of mechanism for clearing the line of fire of the torpedo tube, comprising a driving connection, and operating means extending from the driving connection to the torpedo cap and to the swinging hull section, the swinging hull section being pivotally connected to the rigid hull section and also to the operating means, and one of said pivotal connections being slidable in a straight line groove; substantially as described.

8. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section, and a normally-closed latorally-swinging hull section near one end of the boat, and a torpedo tube provided with a swinging cap and mounted entirely within the hull of the boat and to one side of the longitudinal. center line thereof so as to fire through the opening produced in the hull upon swinging the swinging hull section to its open position, of mechanism for clear ing the line of fire of the torpedo tube, com prising a driving connection, and operating means extending from the driving connection to the torpedo cap and from the torpedo cap to the swinging hull section, the swinging hull section being pivotally connected to the rigid hull section and also to the terpedo cap, and one of said pivotal connections being slidable in a straight line groove; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section, and a normally-closed swinging hull section arranged near one end of the boat and operatively connected to the rigid hull section by a pivot slidable in a guide carried, thereby, of mechanism for swinging the swinging hull section on the pivot and for simultaneously sliding the pivot along the guide for the purpose of producing an opening in the hull suitable for discharging a torpedo therethrough, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section, and a normally-closed swinging hull section arranged near one end of the boat and operatively connected to the rigid hull section by a pivot slidable in a guide carried thereby, of mechanism for swinging the swinging hull section on the pivot and for simultaneously sliding the pivot along the guide for the purpose of producing an opening in the hull suitable for discharging a torpedo therethrough, the arrangement being such as to present a substantially uninterrupted outer surface when the swinging hull section is in its normallyclosed position; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section, and a normally-closed swinging hull section arranged near one end oi the boat and operatively connected to the rigid hull section by a pivot slidable in a guide carried thereby, of mechanism for swinging the swinging hull section on the pivot and for simultaneously sliding the pivot along the guide for the purpose of producing an opening in the hull suitable for discharging a torpedo therethrough, comprising a driving connection, and an operating connection extending from the driv ing connection to a pivot connection with the swinging hull section; substantially as described.

7. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section and a normally-closed swinging hull section arranged near one end of the boat and operatively connected to the rigid hull section by a pivot slidable in a guide carried thereby, and a torpedo tube provided with a cap and arranged within the heat so as to fire through the opening in the hull produced upon swinging the swinging huil section to its open position, of a driving connection, and operating connections extending from the driving connection for swinging the cap of the torpedo and for swinging the swinging hull section to their open positions upon operation of the driving connection to its open position; substantially as described.

8. The combination with a boat having a rigid hull section and a normally-closed swinging hull section arranged near one end of the boat and operatively connected to the rigid hull section by a pivot slidable in a guide carried thereby, and a torpedo tube provided with a cap and arranged within the boat so as to fire through the opening produced upon swinging the swinging hull section to its open position, of mechanism for clearing the line of fire of the torpedo tube by a single driving operation, comprisabout different centers to their open positions; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOh/IAS MGCHEYNE GUNN. lVitnesses F. L. BRAKE, SUSIE J. SMITH.

ing a driving connection, an operating connection extending from the driving connection to a pivot connection with the cap of the torpedo tube and with the swinging hull section in such manner that upon operation of the driving connection to its open position, the cap of the torpedo tube and the swinging hull section are simultaneously swung Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

